Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

Late Latin ''pejoratus'', past participle of ''pejorare'' to make or become worse, from [[Latin]] ''pejor'' worse; akin to [[Sanskrit]] ''padyate'' he falls, Latin ''ped''-, ''pes'' foot

Late Latin ''pejoratus'', past participle of ''pejorare'' to make or become worse, from [[Latin]] ''pejor'' worse; akin to [[Sanskrit]] ''padyate'' he falls, Latin ''ped''-, ''pes'' foot

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1888]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1888]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1: having [[negative]] connotations; especially : tending to disparage or belittle  

*1: having [[negative]] connotations; especially : tending to disparage or belittle  

==Description==

==Description==

A '''pejorative''' (also ''term of [[abuse]]'' or ''derogatory term'') is a word or grammatical form that connotes [[negativity]] and expresses [[contempt]] or distaste. A term can be regarded as ''pejorative'' in some [[social]] or cultural groups but not in others, e.g., [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_(term) hacker] is a term used for [[computer]] [[criminals]] as well as quick and clever computer [[experts]]. Sometimes, a term may begin as a ''pejorative'' and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense in some or all [[contexts]], e.g., "punk" or "dude". In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_linguistics historical linguistics], this [[phenomenon]] is known as ''melioration'', or ''amelioration'', reclaiming, or [[semantic]] [[change]].

A '''pejorative''' (also ''term of [[abuse]]'' or ''derogatory term'') is a word or grammatical form that connotes [[negativity]] and expresses [[contempt]] or distaste. A term can be regarded as ''pejorative'' in some [[social]] or cultural groups but not in others, e.g., [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_(term) hacker] is a term used for [[computer]] [[criminals]] as well as quick and clever computer [[experts]]. Sometimes, a term may begin as a ''pejorative'' and eventually be adopted in a non-pejorative sense in some or all [[contexts]], e.g., "punk" or "dude". In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_linguistics historical linguistics], this [[phenomenon]] is known as ''melioration'', or ''amelioration'', reclaiming, or [[semantic]] [[change]].

Name slurs can also involve an insulting or disparaging [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innuendo innuendo] rather than being a direct derogatory remark. In some cases, a person's [[name]] can be redefined with an unpleasant or insulting [[meaning]], or applied to a [[group]] of people considered to be inferior or lower in [[Social status|social class]], as a group label with a disparaging meaning. Also, an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_slur ethnic slur] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_slur racial slur] can be used as a pejorative to imply people of those groups are inferior or deficient.

Name slurs can also involve an insulting or disparaging [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innuendo innuendo] rather than being a direct derogatory remark. In some cases, a person's [[name]] can be redefined with an unpleasant or insulting [[meaning]], or applied to a [[group]] of people considered to be inferior or lower in [[Social status|social class]], as a group label with a disparaging meaning. Also, an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_slur ethnic slur] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_slur racial slur] can be used as a pejorative to imply people of those groups are inferior or deficient.

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]